A look into what I’ve been up to this summer - creating, exploring, swimming and sunning!

ingredients for some summer magic:

-Make an iced drink (My new summer favorite: Pineapple, lime, ice and mint blended up! )
-Shop at the farmers market (Brattleboro, VT on Saturdays is epic)
-Afternoon in the garden (Vontrapp Flowers open garden days are magic)
-Ice cream for dinner (Super Secret Ice Cream in Bethlehem, NH is unreal)
-Dinner outside with a view (Edson Hill in Stowe blew me away)
-A lobster roll (preferably in Maine)
-Dip in water (Mad River + Waterbury Reservoir = heaven)
-Corn on the cob (is there anything better?)
-Make something with your hands (keep reading to see what I’ve been making!)

These past few months I have had some incredibly fun custom projects in the works. In a season where I want to move at my own pace more than ever I have enjoyed the freedom and creativity that this freelance work has provided so much!

First up was a special project for the Harborvale, a new hotel in Burlington. They reached out looking for custom scarves + pocket squares for their staff and to sell in the hotel. The custom color way was inspired by the beauty of Lake Champlain.

Next I had the honor to create custom silk ties and bridesmaid dresses for a couple getting married this September. They had stopped into the studio on a whim back in March and we got to talking… The wildflower color way was chosen and I got to work! First I dyed the custom silk ties for the groom and groomsmen. Then the idea of bridesmaid dresses came to fruition after dyeing a custom dress for my friend Elise for a wedding! Planning my own wedding at the same time as working with this couple felt even more special and we really connected on the craziness of all things weddings (it’a a lot). I absolutely love how these pieces came out and am so excited for their big day and to see how everything looks together!!

Explore in stores!

This summer I also got to create some special collections for two stores that I looove working with! Hunter Gatherer in Hawaii and By Land and Sea in Nyack, NY (my hometown). I have a collection on Faire Wholesale where stores can purchase made to order pieces from me, which is how Hunter Gather found me back in 2020! I love returning to these classic color ways and styles. Here’s some of the pieces I created for them…

For By Land and Sea I typically design special pieces just for them. I have been selling my work here since the very beginning of Explore, starting 14 years ago it was Maria Luisa Boutique and I was working there! It was the first shop to ever sell my work and I’m so grateful to continue to do so with the new ownership of Lindsay and her beautiful transformation into By Land and Sea. Here’s some of the pieces I created for them! Special addition to the hand dyed silks is the hand painted waves!

This summer I’ve been making making an effort to make clothing for me more! I have a huge collection of really special fabric from my travels and my mom that has been just sitting and waiting for years and years. I’m so happy to finally be diving into it a bit more and making some crazy cool things that I love. I’ve been sewing some things from paper patterns and using techniques I haven’t done in quite some time and then making some things from my own drafted patterns. The best part is then wearing it! Getting dressed in colorful clothes is so freakin fun. I always love expressing myself through clothing and color- instant mood booster!

The painting exploration has continued, both with watercolors and on fabric. It’s just so fun. When I get a quick watercolor done in the morning I always feel so inspired. Experimenting on fabric is challenging but in a good way. I started painting outside these last couple of weeks which has been a dream of mine for a while so I’m looking forward to doing more of that while the weather is still nice. Al fresco studio!!

Gardening remains one of my greatest joys in the summer. Especially after all the work I put in last summer it’s been so cool to see all those perennials pop back up even bigger and better. I re-planted my wildflower garden patch in the front with seeds and it is popping off currently! My newest project has been using these blooms to create “forever flower” art. Using tataki-zomé (flower pounding) technique I have been working with wood to create wall hangings. I plan to have these available in my studio for Art Hop and am excited to share my garden with you!

The colors of summer…

My newest collection is inspired by all my favorite bits of my favorite season. Beautiful blooms, garden fresh veggies, and crashing waves. They’re bright and bold and I hope they can inspire in you in some way, make you feel beautiful, and remind you of this special time of year each time you wear them. Explore the collection here.

The best thing I’ve been making this summer? The most of each day. This is my favorite time of year and I’ve just been soaking it in as much as I can! Swimming at the reservoir or river daily, going to farmers markets, hiking, berry + flower picking, rollerblading at the lake, seeing live music on a lawn, just being outside as much as possible. I’m so grateful to live in this beautiful place and get to explore and create here.

Thanks for exploring with me!

xo Emelia

exploring + creating in the summertime